The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-10-20
LOBSTERS.
Some Facts Concerning the
Warriors of the Deep.
Their Voracity Leads to Their
Easy Capture.

During the early period of its growth,
says tho Baltimore Sun, the lobster casts
the whole of his shell frequently-in the
second year every two months-but as
its size increases new dress is less often
required, till at last, when arrived at the
fullncss of physical dignity, its armor
grows as it were rusty, and becomes
coated over with parasitic shells.
DR.. Beard tells us that "thc lobster
only increases in size during the short
period of noting, but this increase is so
great that it is almost as difficult to be-
lieve the cast off clothes ever fitted the
large flcshy mass lying languidly beside
them, as that the gigantic genie ever
came out of the jar the lid of which
had been in an evil hour removed by the
Arabian fisherman
When the pea is sufficiently ripe the
fish has the power to place her eggs un-
der the protection of her over-archiug
shell, where they advance gradually to
maturity, one lobster producing from
90, 1000 to $4,000 eggs each season. The
spawn is thus carried by the mother till
nearly fit to commence Independent life,
and when cast off it socn gives birth to
the young lobster, which grows rapidly,
but passes through many changes before
it assumes the form and color with which
ordinary observers arc more familiar.
Enormous as Is the increase from
single female lobster their numbers are
considerably diminished by predatory
fish, which devour them with great
avidity and relish, but we are told that
the mother protects her progeny to the
utmost, and by no means ceases her care
with the deposit of her spawn, but con-
tlnues it in a very pleasing and interest
ing manner longer than in most animals
of far higher grade of organization.
Many fishermen assert that they have
frequently seen during the season the
old Holsters with their young around
them. 'Some of these infants have
been noticed at six inches long, the old
lobster with her head pcering out from
under rock, the young ones playing
around her She appeared to rattle her
claws on the approach of the fishermen,
when herself and young family took
refuge under the rocks; the rattling was
no doubt to give. the alarm. This is
told by old and experienced men, with
out the slightest concert or question of
collusion
The Holsters home, " says DR.. Pcard,
"is in the purcst water, beneath which
he walks through brown and tangled
forests of palmy weeds, warrior in full
panoply, ever ready to do battle with all
comers."
1t is here in rocky ground and in the
fastnesses such localities afford to a
creature SO frequently dcfenseless he
feeds chiefly on the aquatic vegetation
which surrounds him, chopping up his
salad with the large claw, little con-
fcious how his example may be followed
by man at feast at which he may be
the principal invited guest.
Lobsters and crabs vary in their tastes
Lobstcrs will be attracted by almost
any description of offal, the more putres-
cent the better; the crab will refuse to
enter il the bait is not sweet and fresh.
DR.. Blakcy says the lobster is consid-
cred an unclcan cater, and is often
called the scavcnger of the seas. lie is
fierce maraudcr, pouncing on dcad or
living substan ccs of all kinds. He ap-
pears to have powerful sense of smell
although no distinct organs for this of
flee have yet been detected. His car
nivorous voracity leads TO the animals
destruction. Baited traps made Of
strong twigs, like the common wire
mousctraps, are lowered into the water
and marked with buoy, and these be
come the most effectual means of cap.
turing this epicurcan crustacean.